Air Compression System Having Characteristic of Storing Unstable Energy and Method for Controlling the Same

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses an air compression system having a characteristic of storing unstable energy and a method for controlling the same. The air compression system comprises an energy conversion system, an energy storage device, a compression device, and an air storage device. The control method comprises the steps of: the energy conversion system collecting the unstable natural energy and converting the unstable energy into a mechanical energy; the energy conversion system transmitting the mechanical energy to the energy storage device for storage; the energy storage device transmitting the energy to the compression device; the compression device utilizing the energy for compressing air for at least one whole stroke; and the compression device storing the compressed air in the air storage device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air compression system having a characteristic of storing unstable energy and a method for controlling the same, and more particularly to an air compression system which comprises an energy conversion system, an energy storage device, a compression device, and an air storage device for collecting the unstable natural energy and storing the energy in a form of compressed air.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Renewable energy utility systems, such as wind power, water power and solar energy utility systems, all store and use the way of converting the renewable energy into an electric energy. However, taking a wind power generator as an example, in the process of the mechanical converted into the electric energy, the wind power should be reach a rated wind speed to operate the generator. Further, taking a solar cell as another example, the solar cell can not generate power without the sufficient time to explosing under the sun. Under these limited conditions, the utilization rate of the renewable energy is decreased.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional wind power generation system A1 is illustrated, which includes a wind collector A100, a transmission shaft A110, a gear case A120, two air compressors A130, a heat source recovery device A140, an air storage device A150, a cold source recovery device A160, a turbine engine A170 and a generator A180. When the wind collector A100 is driven by wind, the unstable kinetic energy of wind is transmitted to the air compressors A130 through the transmission shaft A110. The air compressors A130 compress the air with high degree and then store the compressed air in the air storage device A150. The compressed air can be output to the turbine engine A170 and the generator A180 for generating power. However, the conventional wind power generation system A1 generates power just after the wind reaching a rated wind speed. If the wind is not strong enough, the wind collector A100 can rotate but the wind power generation system A1 can not be used for generating power, thus the wind will be wasted. It has to be improved.

In view of this, it is necessary to provide a new energy conversion and storage system, which can collect the unstable energy source and elevate the utilization rate of the unstable energy source by a particular way of energy transmission and storage, so as to decrease the limitations of the use of the energy.

Furthermore, prior application fields of an air compressor include refrigeration, providing driving source for industry, silicon chemical industry, petroleum industry, and transmitting natural gas. The air compressor pumps air into a cylinder by a mechanical way, and compresses the air with a reciprocating movement of a piston, and then the compressed air is sent into an air-saving barrel. The principle is that a motor and a belt drive a crank and then the piston is driven to perform the reciprocating movement. When the pressure in the cylinder is raised, an exhaust valve is open, and then the compressed air is pumped into the air-storage barrel.

High-pressure air has the advantage of non-pollution and light weight. In recent years, energy-related issues are paid much attention gradually, and the high-pressure air becomes one of the important alternative energies. The major way to produce the high-pressure air is the use of the air compressor. After the air being compressed, the energy is saved with a form of potential energy, which is a clean energy.

Therefore, if the air compressor can be integrated into the renewable energy utility system for storing the unstable energy of nature with the form of high-pressure air, the clean energy can be generated and the utilization rate of the renewable energy can be elevated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention resorted to past experience, imagination, and creativity, performed experiments and researches repeatedly, and eventually devised the present invention, an air compression system having a characteristic of storing unstable energy and a method for controlling the same.

The major objective of the present invention is to provide the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy, which can collect the unstable energy source and increase the utilization rate of the unstable energy, so as to minimize the usage limitation of the energy.

According to the above objective, the present invention provides an air compression system having a characteristic of storing unstable energy comprising: an energy conversion system for collecting the unstable natural energy and converting the unstable energy into a mechanical energy; an energy storage device being connected with the energy conversion system and for receiving and storing the mechanical energy transmitted by the energy conversion system; a compression device being connected with the energy storage device, when the energy storage device stores a certain amount of energy, the energy storage device transmitting the energy to the compression device for compressing air; and an air storage device being connected with the compression device and for storing the air compressed by the compression device.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide the method for controlling the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy, which can store the unstable natural energy with the form of high-pressure air by a particular way of energy transmission and storage, so as to generate clean energy and elevate the conversion rate of the unstable energy.

According to the above objective, the present invention provides a method for controlling an air compression system having a characteristic of storing unstable energy comprising the steps of: (1) an energy conversion system collecting the unstable natural energy; (2) the energy conversion system converting the unstable energy into a mechanical energy; (3) the energy conversion system transmitting the mechanical energy to an energy storage device; (4) the energy storage device storing the mechanical energy; (5) determining whether the energy storage device stores a certain amount of mechanical energy, if yes, going to step (6), otherwise, going to step (1); (6) the energy storage device transmitting the mechanical energy to a compression device; (7) the compression device utilizing the mechanical energy to compress air for at least one whole stroke; and (8) the compression device storing the compressed air in an air storage device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a complete understanding of the aspects, structures and techniques of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a conventional wind power generation system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an air compression system having a characteristic of storing unstable energy according to a core technology of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for controlling the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to the core technology of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for controlling the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To achieve the foregoing objectives and effects, the inventors integrate a new energy storage device with a renewable energy utility system and design a series of control procedures, thus achieving an air compression system having a characteristic of storing unstable energy and a method for controlling the same of the present invention.

First, the system structure and the control method according to a core technology of the present invention are detailed illustrated. Referring to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to the core technology of the present invention. The air compression system 1 includes an energy conversion system 100, an energy storage device 110, a compression device 120, and an air storage device 130.

The energy conversion system 100 can collect the unstable natural energy and converting the unstable energy into a mechanical energy. The unstable energy is renewable energy and includes wind power, water power, solar energy, and ocean energy et al. The energy conversion system 100 includes: an energy collecting device 101 for collecting the unstable energy of nature and converting the unstable energy into the mechanical energy, wherein the energy collecting device 101 can be a wind power conversion device, a water power conversion device, a solar energy conversion device, an ocean energy conversion device, or a renewable energy conversion device; a transmission device 102 being connected with the energy collecting device 101 and for regulating the rotation direction of an axis and transmitting the mechanical energy downstream; a speed changing device 103 being connected with the transmission device 102 and for converting the mechanical energy to a power sufficient for driving the energy storage device 110; and a transmission mechanism 104 being connected between the speed changing device 103 and the energy storage device 110 and for transmitting the power generated by the speed changing device 103 to the energy storage device 110.

The energy storage device 110 is connected with the energy conversion system 100 and able to receive and store the mechanical energy transmitted by the energy conversion system 100. The energy storage device 110 can be a flywheel device, an elastic element, a gravity storing device, or a kinetic energy storing device.

The compression device 120 is connected with the energy storage device 110. When the energy storage device 110 stores a certain amount of energy, the energy storage device 110 transmits the energy to the compression device 120 for compressing air. Wherein a regulation device 140 can be provided and disposed between the energy storage device 110 and the compression device 120.

The air storage device 130 is connected with the compression device 120 and can store the air compressed by the compression device 120. In practice, the air storage device 130 can be designed as a parallel or series connection form of on-to-many amplification.

Referring to FIG. 3, which is a flow chart for controlling the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to the core technology of the present invention. The method includes the steps of: (step 201) the energy conversion system collecting the unstable natural energy; (step 202) the energy conversion system converting the unstable energy into a mechanical energy; (step 203) the energy conversion system transmitting the mechanical energy to the energy storage device, wherein the energy storage device is a flywheel device; (step 204) the energy storage device storing the mechanical energy; (step 205) determining whether the energy storage device stores a certain amount of mechanical energy, if yes, going to step 206, otherwise, going to step 201; (step 206) the energy storage device transmitting the mechanical energy to a compression device; (step 207) the compression device utilizing the mechanical energy to compress air for at least one whole stroke; and (step 208) the compression device storing the compressed air in an air storage device. In the above control method, a regulation device can be provided and disposed between the flywheel device and the compression device for transmitting the kinetic energy of the rotation of the flywheel device to the compression device, so as to drive the compression device to compress air for integer times.

Subsequently, the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy and the method for controlling the same according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention are detailed illustrated. The preferred embodiment is based on the above core technology, and the unstable energy source is wind power. Referring to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram of the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The air compression system 3 includes a wind collector 300, a gear set 310, a speed changing device 320, a transmission mechanism 330, a flywheel device 340, a clutch 350, a compression device 360, and an air storage device 370.

The wind collector 300 is equal to the energy collecting device 101 in the core technology, and it can collect wind power as the unstable energy source and convert the wind power to the mechanical energy. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wind collector 300 is a vertical axis wind collector, which can collect the wind from different direction and increase the collection rate for unstable energy.

The gear set 310 is equal to the transmission device 102. The gear set 310 is connected with the wind collector 300 for regulating the rotation direction of an axis and transmitting the mechanical energy to the speed changing device 320. Owing to the vertical axis wind collector being employed to the preferred embodiment, the gear set 310 should be a helical gear correspondingly for properly regulating the rotation direction of the axis. However, the kind of the gear set 310 is not limited to the helical gear, and all kinds of the gear being able to regulate the rotation direction of the axis are included in the range of the present invention.

The speed changing device 320 is connected with the gear set 310 and can convert the mechanical energy transmitted by the gear set 310 to a sufficient power for driving the flywheel device 340.

The transmission mechanism 330 is connected between the speed changing device 320 and the flywheel device 340, and the transmission mechanism 330 can transmit the power generated by the speed changing device 320 to the flywheel device 340. The transmission mechanism 330 is not limited to be coaxial with the flywheel device 340, as well as the movement manner of the transmission mechanism 330 is not limited. Thus, the transmission mechanism 330 can drive the flywheel device 340 to rotate by the way of rotation or linear movement.

The flywheel device 340 is equal to the energy storage device 110 in the core technology, and it is connected with the transmission mechanism 330. The flywheel device 340 can store the mechanical energy generated by the wind collector 300. After the flywheel device 340 storing enough energy, it can transmit the energy to the compression device 360 for compressing air.

The clutch 350 is equal to regulation device 140 and disposed between the flywheel device 340 and the compression device 360. The clutch 350 can transmit the kinetic energy of the rotation of the flywheel device 340 to the compression device 360 for compressing air for integer times.

The compression device 360 is connected with the clutch 350 and able to receive the kinetic energy of the rotation of the flywheel device 340 by the action of the clutch 350, and then utilizes the kinetic energy to compress air.

The air storage device 370 is connected with the compression device 360 and able to store the air compressed by the compression device 360.

Referring to FIG. 5, which is a flow chart for controlling the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The method includes the steps of: (step 401) the wind collector collecting the wind power as the unstable energy source; (step 402) the wind collector converting the wind power into a mechanical energy; (step 403) the wind collector transmitting the mechanical energy to the gear set; (step 404) the gear set transmitting the mechanical energy to the speed changing device; (step 405) the speed changing device converting the mechanical energy to the sufficient rotational speed for driving the flywheel device to rotate; (step 406) the speed changing device driving the flywheel device to rotate through the transmission mechanism; (step 407) the flywheel device storing the rotational kinetic energy; (step 408) the clutch determining whether the flywheel device reaches a particular rotational speed, if yes, going to step 409, otherwise, going to step 401; (step 409) the clutch transmitting the rotational kinetic energy of the flywheel device to the compression device; (step 410) the compression device utilizing the rotational kinetic energy of the flywheel device to compress air for at least one whole stroke; and (step 411) the compression device storing the compressed air to the air storage device. The compressed air generated by this method can be used as extremely clean and non-pollution energy.

By the detailed description of the overall structure and technical content of the present invention, the following advantages of the present invention can be derived:

The present invention takes the advantage of the energy storage device to lower the threshold of the utilization of the unstable energy, so as to elevate the utilization rate of the unstable energy.

The present invention employs a series of new control method for effectively collecting and converting the unstable energy source, so as to elevate the utilization rate of the unstable energy.

The air compression system of the present invention not only has the advantage of environmental protection and energy-saving, but also can store the off-peak energy to the system of the present invention, and then the energy can be released and utilized when required, so that the air compression system has much elasticity in use.

It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention described herein are merely illustrative of the technical concepts and features of the present invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art, after reading the present disclosure, will know how to practice the invention. Various variations or modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such equivalent variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

As a result of continued thinking about the invention and modifications, the inventors finally work out the designs of the present invention that has many advantages as described above. The present invention meets the requirements for an invention patent, and the application for a patent is duly filed accordingly. It is expected that the invention could be examined at an early date and granted so as to protect the rights of the inventors. 

1. An air compression system having a characteristic of storing unstable energy comprising: an energy conversion system for collecting the unstable natural energy and converting the unstable energy into a mechanical energy; an energy storage device being connected with the energy conversion system and for receiving and storing the mechanical energy transmitted by the energy conversion system; a compression device being connected with the energy storage device, when the energy storage device stores a certain amount of energy, the energy storage device transmitting the energy to the compression device for compressing air; and an air storage device being connected with the compression device and for storing the air compressed by the compression device.
 2. The air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to claim 1, wherein the unstable energy is renewable energy and selected from the group consisting of: wind power, water power, solar energy, and ocean energy.
 3. The air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to claim 1, wherein the energy conversion system comprises: an energy collecting device for collecting the unstable natural energy and converting the unstable energy into the mechanical energy; a transmission device being connected with the energy collecting device and for regulating the rotation direction of an axis and transmitting the mechanical energy downstream; a speed changing device being connected with the transmission device and for converting the mechanical energy to a sufficient power for driving the energy storage device; and a transmission mechanism being connected between the speed changing device and the energy storage device and for transmitting the power generated by the speed changing device to the energy storage device.
 4. The air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to claim 3, wherein the energy collecting device is selected from the group consisting of: a wind power conversion device, a water power conversion device, a solar energy conversion device, an ocean energy conversion device, and a renewable energy conversion device.
 5. The air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is selected from the group consisting of: a flywheel device, an elastic element, a gravity storing device, and a kinetic energy storing device.
 6. The air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to claim 1, further comprising a regulation device disposed between the energy storage device and the compression device.
 7. A method for controlling an air compression system having a characteristic of storing unstable energy comprising the steps of: (1) an energy conversion system collecting the unstable natural energy; (2) the energy conversion system converting the unstable energy into a mechanical energy; (3) the energy conversion system transmitting the mechanical energy to an energy storage device; (4) the energy storage device storing the mechanical energy; (5) determining whether the energy storage device stores a certain amount of mechanical energy, if yes, going to step (6), otherwise, going to step (1); (6) the energy storage device transmitting the mechanical energy to a compression device; (7) the compression device utilizing the mechanical energy to compress air for at least one whole stroke; and (8) the compression device storing the compressed air in an air storage device.
 8. The method for controlling the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to claim 7, wherein the energy storage device is a flywheel device.
 9. The method for controlling the air compression system having the characteristic of storing unstable energy according to claim 8, wherein a regulation device is provided between the flywheel device and the compression device for transmitting the kinetic energy of rotating the flywheel device to the compression device, so as to drive the compression device to compress air for the whole stroke. 